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2 Sheets8heet 1.

(No Model.)

J. H. WILLIAMSON. POLE FOR HANDLING PASTEBOARD BOXES.

Patented July 12, 1881.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. J. H. WILLIAMSON. POLE FOR HANDLING PASTEBOARD BOXES. No. 244,350. I Patented July 12, 1881.,

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N. PETERS. Hmlo-Uth'gnphcr. wammm, n.c

UNITED STATES JOSEPH H. WILLIAMSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

on ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.-

POLE FOR HANDLING PASTEBOARD BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 244,350, dated July 12, 1881.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH H. WILLIAM- soN, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pole for Handling Pasteboard Boxes, &c., of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My improvement, in its simplest form, consists of a staff long enough to reach to the box to be moved, a blade secured to the upper end of the staff for insertion beneath the lip of the box-lid, and a toe or projection to take beneath the box. Either the blade or the toe or both maybe made adjustable.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view,

illustrating the pole in its more complicated form, showing the blade in position for insertion beneath the edge of the box-lid. Fig. 2

' shows the same engaged with a box. Fig. 3

is a perspective view, showing a simple form of the pole. Fig. 4. is a side view of same engaged with a box. Fig. 5 shows the blade in extensible form. Fig. 6 shows the toe-plate, consisting of a number of steps or projections to fit it for handling boxes of various depths.

In Figs. 1 and 2;the blade B is hinged to the staff A at b. The lower end, I), of the blade is bent in at about a right angle and passes freely through an orifice in the stafi. The end b forms a catch or detent, which en gages the toe-bar D to hold down the toe D. The catch is forced inward into the position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring, F. (As a modification, the spring may be placed between the blade and the upper end of the staff, see dotted lines, Figs. 1 and 2.) The toe bar slides in guide-straps Gr H, and-isthrown upward by a spiral spring, I, when relieved from the detent b. The lower end of the spring I bears upon the strap H,'and its upper end beneath a shoulder of the bar D. The toe-bar has ratchet-teeth d, which are engaged by a the inside corner between the top and side of the lid, where the lid has considerable power of resistance. (See Figs. 2 and 4, where the box is shown in dotted lines.) It is preferred, though not essential, that the blade should have a notch, B, to admit the string or cord when the lid is tied on. (See Fig. 3.)

Figs. 3 and 4. illustrate my invention in almost its simplest form, B being a curved blade attached fixedly to staff A, and a toe or rest, D, secured to the stafi by a thumb-nut, E, screwing on abolt which passes through a slot, 01, in the toe. This gives means. for the adjustment of the toe to suit the depth of the box. In place of making the toe adjustable, the blade may be made adjustable by slot-tin g it vertically where the screws e pass through it, thus allowing it to be raised or lowered on the staff.

In Fig. 5 the blade is made adjustable in width, the same being made in two tines, B adjustable on the lower screw, rivet, or nail,e, as a pivot, and slotted at 12 where the screw c passes through them, thus allowing expansion or contraction of the blade to suit it to boxes of various depths.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modification, in which the toe-bar D is corrugated or provided with a number of steps or projections, D, which, being at various distances from the top of the blade, fit the pole for handling boxes of various depths, the bottom corner of the box being engaged by the appropriate too D.

In the use of the pole the upper edge of the blade is inserted beneath the edge of the lid and pushed up until it reaches the under side of the top, (see Figs. 1 and 2;) then the box is drawn out, if necessary, to expose enough of its bottom for the engagement of the toe D, and the box or staff is moved so as to bring the toe under this corner. (See Fig. 4.) In

'theform shown in Fig. 2 the moving of the blade on the hinge b releases the toe, and it ascends by the action of the spring 1 until it touches the bottom of the box. (See Fig. 2.)

The position of the box is indicated by broken lines in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

I claim as my invention- 1. The pole for handling boxes, 870., consisting of a staff or handle, a blade to engage the lid, and a toe to engage beneath the bottom of the box or beneath a rib or projection on the box.

2. The combination, with a-staft', A, and toe D, of a blade B, composed of one or more pieces, with a notch or space, B, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of staif A, toe or toes D, and adjustable blade B, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination of blade 13, hinged to 

